Age discrimination – are you prepared?
DWP research reveals many employers are unprepared for age discrimination legislation. Stuart Chamberlain outlines key steps employers must take to comply with regulations and avoid discrimination claims, including auditing pay practices, recruitment criteria, and retirement policies.
HR leads the way into self-service software
Self-service HR software has matured from hype cycle disappointment to become a standard offering, with HR departments leading adoption of web-based solutions. Organizations increasingly recognize significant cost savings and efficiency gains, particularly as cloud-hosted applications reduce capital investment and enable managers to control their own data entry and reporting.
HR Zone Briefing #299 – Employee benefits, what’s the point?
Employee benefits often fail to deliver promised value due to poor implementation and excessive choice, potentially wasting company resources while failing to motivate staff as intended.
What’s the answer? Pregnancy during a fixed term contract
Pregnant employees on fixed-term contracts retain full legal protections against discrimination, including the right not to be dismissed or have their contract non-renewed due to pregnancy. Statutory maternity pay eligibility depends on 26 weeks of continuous service by the 15th week before the expected childbirth date.
Colborn’s Corner: Equality in HR?
HR shows a stark gender imbalance with 70% of CIPD members being female, raising questions about whether the profession practices the equality it preaches. This article explores why fewer men enter HR and whether gender representation matters at different career levels.
HR Software Show – Exclusive preview
The CIPD’s HR Software Show at London Olympia on 21-22 June features over 50 suppliers showcasing HR automation and management tools. HR Zone previews key product announcements from web-based platforms to specialist recruitment and time & attendance solutions.
Training bonus
Small employers with under 50 staff can now claim wage compensation through the Learning and Skills Council’s Train to Gain scheme, which offers free training in literacy, numeracy, and IT skills up to Level 2 NVQ qualifications.
Survey reveals daytime drinking problem
A new survey reveals that one in six UK employees admitted to drinking alcohol at work in the past six months, with workplace accidents linked to alcohol consumption costing businesses significantly. The findings highlight an ongoing cultural problem with daytime drinking and emphasize the need for employers to implement anti-alcohol policies.
Company of the week: Nationwide
Nationwide offers flexible benefits including pension, healthcare, holiday trading, and childcare vouchers, with holiday trading being the most popular. The mutual organization prioritizes employee choice and tailored benefits packages, believing this flexibility provides competitive advantage and improves customer satisfaction.
Employee benefits – what’s the point? By Sarah Fletcher
Employee benefits packages often fail to deliver value due to poor implementation and lack of employee input. Companies risk wasting resources by offering too much choice and generic rewards that don’t match what staff actually want, requiring strategic communication to ensure benefits genuinely motivate retention.
The HR Zone guide to human resource management software (2006)
This HR Zone guide surveys human capital management software options for organizations, mapping niche sectors and examining integration levels from standalone tools to enterprise-wide systems. It helps HR managers and senior directors assess software choices for hiring, payroll, performance management, and related functions.
Off the record: The problem with references
Employers have no legal obligation to provide references, but refusing one to a former employee who raised discrimination claims could constitute unlawful victimization. References must be true, accurate, and fair—it’s not unlawful to give a bad reference, only a false or negligently prepared one. Both employees and new employers can potentially sue for misleading or carelessly compiled references.
Chancellor calls for local pay deals
Chancellor Gordon Brown called for greater flexibility in pay negotiations through local and regional deals, while also proposing limits on public sector pay increases over the next two years as part of the UK’s response to globalisation.
Are you making the most of your temps?
UK businesses are underutilizing temporary staff, with 88% of temps reporting their skills aren’t fully used, despite over 60% being equally or more qualified than permanent employees, according to a new survey.
Stats show public sector most affected by strikes
Public sector strikes accounted for 63% of working days lost to industrial action last year, according to Office of National Statistics data, despite the private sector experiencing more disputes. Overall, 2005 saw the lowest number of strike-related days lost since records began in 1998.
Member’s tip: Employing internal recruitment specialists
Hiring an internal recruitment specialist can reduce costs, improve hiring consistency, minimize legal risks, and enhance your company’s employer brand while ensuring compliant, efficient recruitment practices.
HR Tip: Payment during suspension
Employers must continue paying employees during suspension. Even if staff are sent home pending investigation or disciplinary proceedings, they remain employees and should receive their regular wages until a formal disciplinary decision is made.
Stalemate on Working Time Directive opt-out
European ministers failed to reach agreement on the Working Time Directive’s opt-out clause, pushing discussions to July when Finland assumes the EU presidency.
TUC urges better conditions for temps
The TUC is calling on the government to revive the EU Agency Workers’ Directive to improve conditions for temporary workers, who earn significantly less than permanent staff and lack key protections. A new survey shows 87% of temps earn less than permanent counterparts, with many performing crucial roles despite limited contracts and no access to pensions, sick pay, or redundancy protection.
Europe to highlight equal opps in 2007
The EU designated 2007 as the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, allocating €15 million to promote equality across gender, race, disability, age, and sexual orientation through awareness campaigns and activities.
